5 Ways a Mother-in-Law Can Be a Blessing

5 Ways a Mother-in-Law Can Be a Blessing

Today is my mother-in-law’s birthday! In honor of her special day I thought I’d share some wonderful insights in a blog post entitled, “5 Ways a Mother-in-Law Can Be a Blessing”.

I am very thankful for my husband’s family and their love for the Lord. It is a great blessing to have a husband who loves Christ and was raised in a godly home. It matters and it affects the kind of man he is. It also plays a huge role in our marriage and family.

Now, I am not sharing this blog as a solid “rule” because I understand everyone’s experiences are unique. If you have a controlling mother-in-law who is not walking with the Lord I’m not encouraging you to ignore boundaries for the health of your marriage or family.

Strains in this relationship can be horrific so I want to be sensitive. I am also not sharing this to discourage anyone out there who may be struggling in this relationship, but to be an encouragement of the potential with the grace of God.

My hope for Radiant Purpose is always to encourage women in every area of life to know their identity and purpose. This includes our marriages and family. This blog post is to share some of my thoughts that will help women who have a godly mother-in-law recognize the blessing that it is.

No one is perfect and I don’t share this to paint a picture of perfection apart from Jesus Christ. We all are flawed human beings. But, with the grace of God it is amazing that He makes us a blessing to others in special ways. The world often paints a really frightening picture of mother-in-law and daughter-in-law relationships so I thought sharing a positive one would be helpful for people too! I really am thankful to the Lord for my mother-in-law.

Growing up my Mom was a blessing in that she shared the Lord with me and she also did share things to look for in a godly spouse. She advised watching to see how a potential spouse interacted with his family, how he treated his mother and sisters for insights into his true character. I am thankful for my husband’s love for his family and how he was raised by both of his parents to treat women with kindness.

I share this to encourage any single women as they pray for a godly spouse. When I was single and prayed for a godly husband I didn’t understand how much of a blessing having a new group of godly family members would be.

So anyways that is my disclaimer before this post. Enough said 🙂

“5 Ways a Mother-in-Law Can Be a Blessing”

1. A Mother-in-Law Can Be a Blessing Because She Can Model Godliness in the Home, Marriage, & Family.

“Older women likewise are to be reverent in behavior, not slanderers or slaves to much wine. They are to teach what is good, and so train the young women to love their husbands and children, to be self-controlled, pure, working at home, kind, and submissive to their own husbands, that the word of God may not be reviled.”

-Titus 2:3-5 (ESV)

My mother-in-law has modeled godly marriage and motherhood in such a beautiful way since I have known her. She works hard in her home, caring for her husband and family. She also has a gift of hospitality where she hosts people in the home and serves them well.

I learn a lot from just watching and observing her. She is always willing to share wisdom and her experiences in the Lord. I appreciate that she is not overbearing but respectful of me and my husband’s relationship. It is a huge blessing.

2. A Mother-in-Law Can Be a Blessing Because She Can Pray

My mother-in-law is a prayer warrior and intercessor. This is a huge blessing for our marriage and family. I know that she covers her husband, all of her children, and now their spouses in prayer.

Prayer is a powerful gift that God has given us. We can pray for each other regardless of distance or location. My mother-in-law’s commitment to prayer is spectacular. I also believe it is a spiritual gift of intercession that the Holy Spirit gives to some people where their desire and burden for prayer is unique.

A mother-in-law who lifts you up in prayer can be a huge blessing. It can help when you are in spiritual warfare or discouraged. I am thankful for the prayers of my mother-in-law.

3. A Mother-in-Law Can Be a Blessing Because She Can Help You In Your Calling

I am appreciative of the ways that my mother-in-law has been supportive of my calling. My husband and I have a joint calling in our marriage to the nations, our family, creativity, missions, and ministry.

His parents have been supportive in so many ways when we moved overseas to Haiti; giving financially, helping us pack up, move, and store items in their home are just a few of the many ways they have helped. While we lived overseas and even as we have returned (and only recently gotten a more permanent address back in the States) they collected our mail, communicated with people on our behalf and took ownership of our sweet dog, Benji.

However, we have separate callings that came before we were married. My husband’s call to missions includes different aspects and his production business.

I am thankful for how my mother-in-law has been an advocate for the work we have done and continue to do. She shares about our work enthusiastically and gives feedback that is honest.

4. A Mother-in-Law Can Be a Blessing Because She Can Pray for Your Children.

My husband and I don’t have children yet. But, I already pray for them and am sure that both sets of our parents do also. I am inspired by my husband’s grandmother, Grammy, when it comes to praying for your children and grandchildren. She passed away the year we got married but I had the privilege of meeting her twice.

It was evident that she was strong in the faith, loved the Lord, her family, and prayer. I hear stories that are always encouraging about the life she led and how she loved others.

This week we moved into our new apartment (which I will share more about at a different time). I know the Lord opened doors for this apartment through the prayers of both sets of our parents, family and friends. It’s been a blessing after a harder season for us with transitioning from living in Haiti.

As we have been unpacking we found a letter from Luke’s grandmother. It was dated March 1, 1990. We moved into our apartment the evening of March 1, 2017.

We found the letter on Thursday, March 2. In it she wrote such a precious commitment to pray for Luke, his relationship with the Lord, his work, his life and his parents’ marriage.

His grandmother had MS and was paralyzed for many years. She lived with his family and had caregivers. She impacted many lives through her strength and prayers. I am thankful for her legacy and the godly sons she raised that raised godly sons. One of which is my husband.

5. A Mother-in-Law Can Be a Blessing Because She Can Be a Friend.

The greatest example of friendship between a mother-in-law and daughter-in-law is in the book of Ruth. Naomi and Ruth both experienced devastating loss with their husbands’ dying, as well as, the sons of Naomi.

This story is so remarkable as we see Ruth leave everything she knew even after the death of her husband to follow Naomi. She exhibited authentic discipleship and transformation. She chose to be a part of the people of Israel and follow the God of Israel. She genuinely loved Naomi and God even in the midst of tragedy. The famous speech of Ruth’s has been used in wedding vows and is noted in history.

“But Ruth said, “Do not urge me to leave you or to return from following you. For where you go I will go, and where you lodge I will lodge. Your people shall be my people, and your God my God. Where you die I will die, and there will I be buried. May the Lord do so to me and more also if anything but death parts me from you.” -Ruth 1:16-17 (ESV)

Naomi and Ruth experienced hardships. But, Ruth committed to love and serve her mother-in-law returning to her country, working there to support them by gleaning in a field. I don’t want to share the whole story so feel free to read it in the Book of Ruth here. It’s pretty short only 4 chapters.

I will tell you it’s amazing because it has a happy ending. Ruth marries Boaz, the kinsman Redeemer and gives birth to Obed, the father of Jesse, the father of David. David becomes king and this is the lineage of Jesus Christ, the King of kings.

I love this example of a mother and daughter-in-law that had a good relationship. Pretty awesome if you ask me and a picture of the possibilities when God is involved!

My mother-in-law is a good friend. She is always willing to listen, give of her time, give thoughtful gifts, share life lessons, share wisdom, be vulnerable and encouraging. She really is a blessing in so many ways to so many people! She is generous, kind, and friendly. I am thankful for her godly example.

I praise the Lord for her life and legacy! I am also incredibly for her work as a mother to my husband and her other children. She blesses many people and I hope today she knows that she is loved, valued and appreciated.

Happy Birthday Mom Seavers! We love you!

What are some ways that you think a mother-in-law can be a blessing? I want to hear from you! Share a comment below!

Stay Radiant, Stay Beautiful!

Some Important Info For You to Know

1. Share this post with as many people as possible on Facebook and wish my mother-in-law, Susan Seavers, a Happy Birthday!